George Stonbely
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George N. Stonbely (born December 7, 1945) is an American advertising entrepreneur and civic leader known for his work and advocacy in New York's Times Square.
Born in 1945 in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York, George N. Stonbely graduated from New York University in 1967. While still in college, he first volunteered then worked as a legislative researcher for Robert F. Kennedy, who was the United States Senator from New York at the time. Stonbely worked briefly in sales promotion and advertising for the New York Times, then in 1975, he founded Spectacolor, Inc., an advertising company that pioneered the first full-color, computer-programmed, changeable message billboard. This groundbreaking innovation introduced the concept of selling time on billboards, rather than the customary practice of selling space, a change that would pave the way for outdoor advertising to become a multibillion-dollar industry.
The first Spectacolor sign was installed at One Times Square, the building from which the world-famous Times Square Ball is dropped every New Year's Eve. Eventually more than 60 Spectacolor signs (including static signs, video displays, and 3D spectacular signs) were installed in Times Square, along with more than 50 Spectacolor systems in 30 cities in Europe, South America, the Middle East, and across the United States. In 1984, Spectacolor was chosen by the Marriott Corporation to develop the premiere signage on its new Marriott Marquis Hotel, the first of the developments that led to the rebirth of Times Square that began in the 1980s. The flagship sign, the Eastman Kodak Company's "Kodarama" display, signaled the return of corporate America to Times Square for the first time since the end of World War II. Soon Kodak was joined by Hertz, AT&T, JVC, Chock Full o' Nuts, Maxwell House Coffee Company, Planters Peanuts, and Wrigley, to name a few of the iconic brands that helped reestablish a mainstream marketing presence in Times Square.
By 2000, Spectacolor was the world leader in spectacular advertising, operating in over 30 cities around the globe. That year, Stonbely partnered with Arizona entrepreneur Karl Eller and Clear Channel Communications to form Clear Channel Spectacolor, which he sold to Clear Channel in 2006.
A long-time Times Square advocate, Stonbely is a founding director of the Times Square Alliance and serves on the Mayor's Midtown Citizens Committee. He is also active in numerous international and local charitable organizations, including UNICEF, Partnership for a Drug Free America, and the Greater New York Boy Scouts. He serves on the Board of Directors of Inside Broadway and The Town Hall.
Upon his death in 1999, legendary outdoor advertising designer Douglas Leigh willed Stonbely his famous lighted snowflake, which has been suspended above the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in Manhattan every holiday season since 1984. In 2001, Stonbely dedicated the snowflake to UNICEF, for which more than $50 million has been raised since the UNICEF Snowflake Ball gala was launched in 2004.
Spectacular Ventures Stonbely and Spectacular Ventures (“SV”) have been involved in the civic, business and philanthropic life of Times Square since 1968. In 1975 Stonbely revolutionized outdoor advertising with the invention of digital signage and the launch of the famous Spectacolor signs, which in a historic first, used computers to program billboards into broadcast media, selling time instead of space. Today’s Times Square, and digital media around the world, owe their heritage to this development.
By 2000, Spectacolor became the premiere spectacular advertising company in the world, operating in over 30 international cities, and was acquired by Clear Channel Communications, where Stonbely became Chairman of their Spectacular division (CCS). Over the next five years, CCS experienced double-digit growth under Stonbely’s leadership.
Stonbely was actively involved in the Times Square renaissance as well as the successful civic and legislative efforts at maintaining Broadway’s landmarked theaters and Times Square’s historic “Bright Lights.” (1982 Special Midtown Zoning District). In 1988, Stonbely brought London’s legendary Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum to Times Square where it established its iconic presence on 42nd Street.
In addition to his position as a founding director of the Times Square Business Improvement District (BID) and the Mayor’s Midtown Citizen’s Committee, Stonbely has served on a number of international, regional and local charitable organizations. These include the United Nations Delegations Hospitality Committee, Regional Plan Association, Encore Senior Center, and the Partnership For Drug-Free Kids, Inside Broadway, the Little Sisters of The Assumption Family Health Service in East Harlem. He is also the President of the 1115 Fifth Avenue Cooperative Board, the Fifth Avenue Snowflake Foundation for Humanity, the Executive Committee of the Carnegie Hill Neighbors, and the Steering Committee for the establishment of the East 86th Street Business Improvement District.
The Stonbelys have been fully engaged in the fine and performing arts as patrons of the Metropolitan Opera and the Opera Guild. Christine Stonbely has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s Board of Directors. She is also the president of the Clarion Music Society. The family are also patrons of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s vast collection in its Department of Musical Instruments.
In 2001, the Stonbely Family Foundation created the UNICEF Snowflake, which is suspended at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in New York City. The companion UNICEF Snowflake Gala Ball has raised more than $65 million since its launch. Additional Snowflakes have been launched in Beverly Hills with future sites planned in Paris and Tokyo.
In 2024, The Fifth Avenue Snowflake for Humanity honored Michelin award Chef Daniel Boulud as Chairman of Citymeals on Wheels, and the Fifth Avenue Association on the Bicentennial of Fifth Avenue at its Fifth Avenue Snowflake Ball at the Hotel Pierre on November 22nd, 2024. Stonbely was born and raised in New York City, and lives in Carnegie Hill with his wife, Christine. Their three sons are pursuing careers in the Law, Education and Farming.